Kerri Parker, 30, who runs one of the UK’s biggest model training schools, was given the devastating news that she had a brain tumour in October.

The discovery was only made after she was rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis, which turned out to be a virus.

Miss Parker had the tumour removed in March but faces an anxious wait to see if it grows back and if she will need chemotherapy.

Her mother, Kathleen Parker, has urged others to not be afraid to confront potential serious health problems.

Mrs Parker said: “Generally so many people are diagnosed too late.

“People often want to pretend it’s not happening to them and are too afraid to say anything.

“But parents know when something is wrong with their child.

“If they have persistent headaches or any ongoing health problems they need to get checked out by a doctor straight away.”

Mrs Parker also promoted the HeadSmart campaign, which aims to enhance awareness of symptoms of brain tumours in children and young people.

More on this can be seen at www.headsmart.org.uk.

She was speaking at Kerri’s Kick Off, a football match at Dereham Town’s Aldiss Park, held on Sunday in honour of her daughter, which raised hundreds of pounds for Brain Tumour Research.

Miss Parker, a former Dereham Neathered High School pupil, was unable to attend the match as she was working in Spain, but her mother read a message on her behalf, which thanked the players and the organisers and encouraged them to stay healthy.

It said: “I’m really glad that you all enjoyed the training each week - you all put so much hard work into it, I hope you can continue now and carry on putting your health first as we don’t realise how important it is until we don’t have it.”